One of the greatest hitting catchers of all time. Ranks in the top 5 for catchers in 8 categories and in the top 10 in nine.
Holds major league records for catchers with 2,472 career hits and 483 doubles, while ranking 2nd with 1,389 RBI's and 7th with
248 home runs. Ranked in the top 5 in the National League in 6 categories during the 1970's and in the top 10 in eleven,
including 4th in RBI's and 5th in OPS. Ted had three years with 100+ RBI's and 8 years with 90+. He had .500+ Slugging Average
(SLG) 4 consecutive years (1977-1980). He had 6 years with .370+ On Base Average (OBA) with a high of .408 in 1977.

Simmons, selected as the #1 Draft Choice in 1967, became one of the Cardinals' most productive offensive catchers in team
history. Ted made his major-league debut in 1969 and was the full-time catcher by 1971. In 11 full seasons with St. Louis, Simmons
hit .300 or better six times and drove in 90 or more runs eight times. He was traded to Milwaukee after the 1980 season and in
1982 helped lead the Brewers to the World Series with 23 home runs and 97 RBI's. For his career, Simmons hit .285 with 248 home
runs and 1,389 RBI's.

Tagged Simba for his long locks, he often played hurt and always played hard. Only
average defensively, Simmons wreaked havoc on pitchers. Seven times he batted above
.300, six times reached 20 HR, and eight times exceeded 90 RBI. He switch-hit home
runs in a game three times and established the NL career record for home runs by
a switch-hitter (182). Although not a threat to steal, Simmons had enough speed to
amass 483 doubles.

Simmons had just turned 19 when he played his first games for
the Cardinals. He was groomed to succeed the extremely popular and talented Tim McCarver.
After
annihilating minor league pitching with power and average for three seasons,
Simmons became the regular St. Louis catcher for eleven years. He went to the Brewers
for 1981 after feuding with manager Whitey Herzog.

Simmons helped the Brewers win
the second-half AL East title in the strike-split season and hit a crucial two-run
homer in Game Three of the division playoff as the Brewers staved off elimination.
The following year Milwaukee went all the way to the World Series. As usual, Simmons
hit for a poor average in the postseason, but he hit home runs in the first two games
of the WS against his old team. His greatest clutch performance may have come in
1983, when he drove in 108 runs with only 13 HR.

He closed out his career in 1986-88
as a member of the Braves' utility men's self-dubbed Bomb Squad, playing first base,
catcher, and third base, and serving as a valuable pinch hitter. In October 1988,
Simmons was named director of player development for St. Louis by GM Dal Maxvill,
a former teammate.